DICKINSON, Merle Leroy, 1927-2013

DICKINSON, BENJEGERDES, FENTON, KLOBERDANZ, HENDRICKSON, PEGIS

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 2/20/2014 at 23:58:11

[Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Sunday, November 3, 2013]

CEDAR FALLS -- Merle Dickinson, 86, of Cedar Falls, formerly of Sioux City, died at Windsor Nursing and Rehab Center Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, of natural causes.

Merle was born Jan. 3, 1927, in Manly, the son of Earl and Lizzie Benjegerdes Dickinson.

He graduated from Manly High School, enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Germany for two years. He then attended ISTC (UNI), graduating with BA and MA in business education.

He married Phyllis Fenton on June 12, 1949, in Waterloo. They moved to Mason City where Merle managed agriculture-related businesses for several years. He later taught distributive education in Charles City before moving to Sioux City to become business department chair at Western Iowa Community College. In 1978 he began work with Goodwill Industries, becoming vice president of finance before retiring in 1992. He and Phyllis then moved to Waterloo and launched Dickinson Tours, hosting trips to musical events throughout the Midwest.

Merle’s number one hobby was Barbershop singing. He co-founded and directed choruses in Mason City and Sioux City, served as Central States District President and on the Barbershop Society International Board. He was president of Sioux City Kiwanis Club and Lt. Governor of the Iowa Nebraska District of Kiwanis International. He served as choir director and soloist for many churches throughout his life.

Merle and Phyllis shared music, their gift from God, wherever they lived or traveled.

He is survived by his wife of Cedar Falls; daughter Lynn (Gary) Kloberdanz of Waterloo, daughter Jan (Duane) Hendrickson of Medina, Minn., and daughter Dawn (Jon) Pegis of Skokie, Ill.; nine grandchildren, Angela Feddersen, Brandt (Michele) Slivken and Leah (Aaron) Novak, all of Colorado, Erik Slivken of Seattle, David Hendrickson and Kathleen Hendrickson, both of Medina, Philip (Kelly) West and Peter (Samantha) West, both of Tulsa, Okla., and Stephen West of Amsterdam; five stepgrandchildrenm, Tara Gallardo, Brett Kloberdanz, Jason (Melissa) Kloberdanz, and Michael and Jason Pegis; five great-grandchildren, Garrett and Elsa Heinze, Isabella West and Eliza and Charlie Novak; and four stepgreat-grandchildren, Diego, Andres and Brisa Gallardo and Kiley Kloberdanz.

Merle was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Carroll of Mason City.

Celebration of Life services are 10:30 a.m. Monday at Waterloo First United Methodist Church, with burial at 3 p.m. Monday in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. Visitation from 3:30 to 6 p.m. today at Locke Funeral Home, Waterloo.

Memorials may be directed to the church or Goodwill Industries of Sioux City, Iowa, 5931 Gordon Drive, Sioux City 51106.

Arrangements by Locke Funeral Home Inc.

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DICKINSON, MERLE LEROY

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